Monsanto beefs up with Estonian software group

Monsanto Co. (NYSE:MON) has beefed up its data-science unit with an Estonian company that specialises in software to help farmers track fertilizer and other input use. VitalFields is being bought by Monsanto farm-tech subsidiary The Climate Corporation and marks its first step in o the European market. Terms of the acquisition price weren’t disclosed. Monsanto’s venture capital arm had already put money into the Estonian group at an earlier funding round. A crop seed specialist, Monsanto is currently negotiating to get its US$66bn merger with Bayer passed various regulators. The Vitalfields deal while small gives it a stronger presence in Europe said analysts, an area that has traditionally resisted its genetically modified plants. Share Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Email Print Download PDF version Philip Whiterow Register here to be notified of future…